ISL 2018-19, Bengaluru FC 2-1 NorthEast United FC: 5 Talking Points
Bengaluru FC played their first home game after the Asian Cup International break in the Indian Super League when they hosted Northeast United FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore today.
Bengaluru came into the game after facing their first defeat of the season when they lost to Mumbai in Mumbai when playing their first game after the break. Northeast United kept up their brilliant form this season when they defeated last season's champions Chennaiyin FC in their previous match.
It was a game between the second and third-placed teams in the league and both the sides would want to cement their place in the playoffs as soon as possible.
While Bengaluru FC was looking to get back to winning ways after their first loss, Northeast United wanted to pick up points of the road and keep their record of being the best travelling side intact.
The match started fluidly with both the teams trying to keep the ball and play a possession-based football.
Bengaluru took the lead in the 14th minute through a Mislav Komorski own goal.
Federico Gallego scored the equaliser for Northeast United in the second half before Chencho scored the winning goal for Bengaluru to secure all three points for Bengaluru FC and help them return to winning ways.
The full-time scoreboard read 2-1 in favour of BFC.
On that note let us take a look at the five talking points from today's game.
#5 Carles Cuadrat, Set Pieces and Bengaluru FC the perfect love Triangle
When Albert Rocca was appointed as the Bengaluru FC head coach in 2016, he bought in Carles Cuadrat as his assistant to Bengaluru FC.
Carles Cuadrat during his tenure under Albert Rocca assistant was known for his set-piece routines. Right from their first season in Indian Football in the I-League, it was evident that Bengaluru FC is probably the most dangerous side in the country during set pieces.
It wasn't due to the height advantage that the boys in blue from Bangalore had, but it was the variety that they employed during set pieces.
Be it corners or free kicks Bengaluru almost always managed to surprise the opponents with their variety during set pieces.
This season when Albert Roca left BFC, a lot of people thought about who would take over as the BFC head coach. When Carles Cuadrat was announced as the new head coach, it became clear that BFC would remain to be a dangerous side during set pieces.
Today the first goal that BFC scored was a testament to the fact that Bangalore is the best team in the country during Set pieces. Dimas Delgado played a short pass to Chhetri from a free kick who slipped the ball to Udanta who played it across goal.
Mislav happened to put it into his own net while trying to clear the ball. But the way Khabra, Bheke and Udanta made runs in different directions while the kick was taken caught Northeast by surprise and that lead to the goal. The second goal that BFC scored was also from a long throw another set piece situation.